Safari Time

 Well, this is my 3rd button front dress this season so I guess it's official....... I love them! What I love even more about this one is the buttons on the top are faux. That's right, they don't open. Why am I okay with this? Because even though I am not *ahem* blessed in the chest area, I still have gap issues with any type of button up item. Doesn't matter if it's a top, dress, sweater..... doesn't matter if I size up. In fact, here's a little trick I did with the two button up Walmart dresses I recently featured here after I photographed them - I sewed up the top portion to prevent gaps! I just chose the same color thread and went right along the seam that was already there. I now have to put them on over my head, but it's worth it. All 3 of these dresses have elastic in the back so by sewing them up I am just making the elastic do its job!

 We go to zoos a lot during the season, and I've owned a lot of animal print clothing for the occasion. When I saw this dress I immediately fell in love with the print. As with any Old Navy print, it also comes with a black background and there is a huge variety of pieces for the entire family - dresses, shirts, pants, jumpsuits, etc.... I really like how classic khaki is, and as I mentioned before I love this style of dress. However, if the jumpsuit would have come in khaki rather than black, I probably would have gotten that since I am now also a jumpsuit lover. I am tempted to get pieces for my hubby and two boys so we can match at the zoo - too much? LOL! The linen blend is wrinkly, but so soft and comfy! I bought this at half off, so for just over $20 it's a steal! Old Navy's sales change daily so just keep watching.

 Square-Neck Button-Front Linen-Blend Midi - Old Navy

Leopard Belt - old

Seychelles Sandals - Anthropologie

Graffiti Alley

When Lisa and I were in Ann Arbor last Friday, I told her I'd always wanted to take photos at Graffiti Alley. Neither of us had been there, but if you look it up it will show as a tourist attraction and hashtag all over social media. Who knew what we would find there at 3:00 on a Friday afternoon, so let's just say enter at your own risk! Lisa is never going to let me live down dragging her there!

When thinking about what kind of outfit I would wear there, I knew I wanted it to be pretty simple so that it would not be too busy against the graffiti but still have some interest. Black jeans and a chambray shirt have long been a "go to" combo for me for a casual yet put together look. Wrinkles when you sit can't be helped though. I have long raved about the versatility of chambray shirts - besides just wearing them as shown here, I love knotting them at the waist over a dress in place of a jacket or sweater. I love wearing them tucked into skirts, layered under a sleeveless or strapless dress, worn open as an outer layer, the list goes on! I have several long sleeve chambrays and a few sleeveless ones. I was lacking a short sleeved one so when I saw this at Macy's I knew it would be perfect. I love the pintuck detail and rolled sleeves. I can only find the petite version online, which I have linked, but the last time I was in store they had a good amount. I loved it so much I bought the darker blue color too and hope to show more styling options soon.

The interest piece I decided to add to this outfit was this printed bomber jacket from H&M. It's another older piece I have that was on my list to blog about. If you've followed me long enough, you know that I love unique jackets. You might also notice that when I feature one of these jackets I keep the rest of my outfit simple and/or matchy to the jacket. Please know this is not real life - constantly matching a jacket or purse to an outfit has never been my thing, hence the brown purse here because it was risky to set it down. Anyway, the print on this jacket is a cross between water color and graffiti and I am happy it worked so well in the pictures. I like the contrast white body with black sleeves too.

Style & Co Chambray Shirt : Macy's
Rock & Republic High Roller Jeans : Kohl's (old)
Seychelles Sandals : Anthropologie (old)
Sunglasses : Target
Bomber Jacket : H&M (old)
Bueno Purse : Meijer


Peony Posing

My friend Lisa messaged me late last week and asked if I had heard of this peony garden in Ann Arbor (Nichols Arboretum to be exact). I hadn't, but she wanted to know if we could arrange a visit there. We took Friday afternoon off at the last minute to lunch and explore! We have had a very, very cool and rainy season so this particular day actually looked like the weather was going to cooperate. Lisa has taken blog and family photos for me in the past, so she also suggested we include that and I racked my brain for an outfit that would be worthy of this garden. 

I think we were both amazed when we walked in, and the smell was so good! Peonies have always been one of my favorite flowers, and I really miss the 2 established bushes I had at my old house. I'd like to think that I'll have them again someday when I have more time to dedicate to our yard.

I've had this dress for a few years, but I have not blogged about it. Now I know why. It was waiting for this exact day! I feel bad that I can't link it to shop, but it is a sleeveless asymmetrical hem trapeze dress from the Vera Wang line at Kohl's. They have very similar styles/prints of this dress at all times though.

I am wearing all of my tried and true accessories: Target sunglasses, black belt, monogram necklace, Gap jean jacket (consignment find), Seychelles sandals.

I am so glad I got to experience this garden, and I will definitely be back now that I know about it! The peony garden is a very small portion of the entire property, and it looks like they are always having fun events there.